8A • COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • NOVEMBER 28, 2018
Tax schedules for Oregon employers expected to remain steady
Unemployment tax rates for Or-
egon employers will remain at tax
schedule three for 2019. Tax sched-
ule three includes an average rate
of 1.97 percent for the fi rst $40,600
paid to each employee. Th e specifi c
rate each employer will pay under
the new schedule depends on how
much they have used the unem-
ployment insurance system.
Oregon adjusts employer tax
rates annually using eight tax
schedules based on the solvency
of the Unemployment Insurance
Trust Fund.
Movement between the eight
schedules of tax rates represents
part of the self-balancing aspects
of Oregon’s Unemployment Insur-
ance Trust Fund law. Each Septem-
ber, a formula contained in statute,
determines how much should be
collected during the next year to
maintain a solvent fund.
Each schedule has a range of tax
rates based on an employer’s pre-
vious unemployment insurance
experience. Employers with more
unemployment insurance claims
have a higher tax rate than those
with fewer claims.
As a result of this approach,
Oregon has one of the strongest
trust funds in the nation. Th e trust
fund provides support for tempo-
rarily unemployed workers, their
families, and communities while
minimizing the impact on employ-
ers. Th is approach allows support
without having to reduce benefi ts
to workers, increase employer tax-
es, or borrow from the federal gov-
ernment, as most other states had
to do for the Great Recession.
Because of Oregon’s innovative
Unemployment Trust Fund mod-
el, we are well positioned to pay
benefi ts in the next recession. Un-
like other states where employers
had to pay additional taxes or sur-
charges when states borrowed to
pay benefi ts, Oregon’s trust fund is
earning interest.
Th is reduces the amount that
needs to be collected from Oregon
employers to maintain the trust
fund.
Oregon’s unemployment rate
continues a downward trend in
2018. Th e low number of unem-
ployed workers refl ects a very tight
job market. Th is creates some chal-
lenges for employers maintaining
their workforce, but means that
there are far fewer Oregonians who
are unable to fi nd a job.
Th e jobs employers provide con-
tribute to a vibrant Oregon econo-
my and support the quality of life
for Oregonians.
Cottage Grove students may qualify for scholarship money through A1 Auto Transport
Located out of Aptos, Calif., A-1
Auto Transport Inc. is a global
leader in the auto transport indus-
try. Th e car shipping company’s
national recognition has made it
possible for them to extend their
scholarship program to all eligi-
ble students in and near Cottage
Grove. Scholarship programs
award fi nancial relief in the sum of
$250, $500 or $1,000 per year.
Any student currently enrolled
DRAIN
from A1
of communities across the
country, and of grassroots
democracy itself, in linked
to the vitality of local jour-
nalism.”
Th e lack of readily avail-
able, local information lead-
ing to a decline in commu-
nity participation is a large
part of the reason Akins has
opted to embark on such a
project.
“Even voter turnout is af-
fected,” she said of the ab-
sence of local news. “I think
part of it is that people don’t
know. Th ey just don’t
know.”
In the absence of local
newspapers, communities
haven taken to the inter-
net and social media. In
Drain, the Facebook page
Drain Oregon Commu-
nity Board has nearly 500
members and provides in-
formation about job open-
ings, photos of missing
pets and property, as well
as announcements about
upcoming events. But a 2017
count has the population
of Drain at approximately
1,200, meaning more than
half of the city’s residents
aren’t hooked up to the local
news source.
“I’m surprised how many
people don’t use the inter-
net and don’t use comput-
ers here. It’s far more than I
would have guessed,” Akins
said. “We’re at 65 percent
rentals here and I am sur-
prised even by the renters.
Th ey just can’t aff ord it.”
Th e Community News is
in college, a trade school, univer-
sity or other accredited institute
may enter if they have a GPA of 3.0
or higher. To enter for the scholar-
ship, qualifi ed students must write
an essay of 1,000 or more words
in relation to the auto transport
industry. Some examples of topics
to use for these essays include the
following:
• International auto transport
• Auto transport services
hoping to fi ll the void left by
the growing internet groups
and shrinking local cover-
age. Th ere’s no subscription
fee but residents who want
to purchase a copy in addi-
tion to the one they receive
in the mail can do so. Akins
plans to print 500 extra cop-
ies a month.
And even though Akins
says the staff is small, she
still hopes to cover Drain,
Yoncalla and Elkton by
counting on residents to
submit information. In ad-
dition, an entire page will be
dedicated to the local school
with information provided
Clear Many Convictions,
Arrests, & Expungement
$155
by the district.
“I feel our communities
losing touch,” Akins said.
“Th ey don’t get involved
because they don’t know
what’s going on and we
hope the community comes
back together. Th e commu-
nities wanted this back.”
Th e fi rst edition of the
Community News was
mailed out to residents on
Nov. 21.
For more information
or to receive a newspaper
contact Akins at drainyon-
callaelktonnews@gmail.
com.
DENTAL Insurance
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reviewing all entries and will check
for plagiarism.
Students may submit their essays
to scholarships@a1autotransport.
com. Students must include their
name, name of the school, email
address, mailing address and a
contact number with their essays.
Th e deadline for submissions is
March 10, 2019. At the end of
March, qualifi ed essays will be re-
leased on A-1’s website along with
the student’s byline. Th ese essays
are then voted on by the Schol-
arship Committee. Winners will
be announced on the website as
well through email. Students are
allowed to share the link to their
content on their social media if
they’d like to share their fi nished
work.
To learn more visit www.a1auto-
transport.com/a-1-auto-transport-
scholarship.
Health, Happiness
& Wellness
A guide to local businesses committed to helping
our community thrive
Counseling & Mental Health
South Lane Mental Health
Serving Cottage Grove Since 1988
• Outpatient Counseling for Children, Adults & Couples
• Psychiatric Medication Management
• Crisis Assistance
541-942-2850 • 541-942-3939 • www.slmh.org
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1325 Birch Avenue, Cottage Grove
541.942.2471
Park W. McClung, DDS & Tammy L. McClung, DDS
Dr. Bitner D.D.S., P.C.
350 Washington Ave • Cottage Grove
Lumineers
The Most Natural Veneer
(behind International Fitness)
541-942-7934
Dr. Shane Parsons
605 Jefferson Ave.
Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove
200 Gateway Blvd.
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
(541) 942-5400
Mon. - Sat. 8am - 9pm
Sun. 9am - 8pm
Ed & Kori Sowa
Independent Owner-Operators
facebook.com/CottageGroveGroceryOutlet
DIVORCE
• Enclosed car shipping
• Open-air car shipping
• Door to door vehicle transport
• Shipping classic or antique cars
• Motorcycle shipping
• Container shipping
• Moving local or long distance
and more.
All essays must be completely
unique and not published any-
where else online. A-1’s Scholar-
ship Committee is responsible for
SAVE 40-70%
ON GROCERIES.
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2 Hygienists available • Same friendly and caring staff
Please call for an appointment at 541-942-9171
Pharmacies
BI-MART Pharmacy
OPEN at 9am Mon. - Sat. • Convenient Walk-Up Window
100 Gateway Blvd. • 942-9107
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call us 541-942-3325